Single Idea 16359

[catalogued under 19. Language / B. Reference / 4. Descriptive Reference / a. Sense and reference]

Full Idea

What plays the role of sense is not information in a file, but the file itself. If there are two distinct files, one for 'Cicero' and one for 'Tully', then there are two distinct (non-descriptive) senses, even if the information in both files is the same.

Clarification

Cicero and Tully were the same person

Gist of Idea

Sense is a mental file (not its contents); similar files for Cicero and Tully are two senses

Source

François Recanati (Mental Files [2012], 3.4)

Book Reference

Recanati,François: 'Mental Files' [OUP 2012], p.41


A Reaction

This may be the best idea in Recanati's book. A sense might be a 'way of coming at the information', rather than some set of descriptions.

Related Idea

Idea 16360 Identity statements are informative if they link separate mental files [Recanati]